Draught limits tighten on lower Mississippi River

Spanish Market: Coal, Fertilizers, Freight, Oil products, Petroleum coke
23/09/24

The US Coast Guard (USGC) placed further restrictions on traffic on the lower Mississippi River as water levels continue to deteriorate.

The USCG on 22 September announced that all northbound traffic cannot have draught deeper than 9.5ft from Tunica, Louisiana, to Greenville, Mississippi. For Greenville to Tiptonville, Mississippi, barges must remain above a 9ft draught, the shallowest draught channel allowed for the lower Mississippi River by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

All northbound transit also cannot load more than four barges wide or configure more than five barges wide.

Southbound traffic from Tiptonville to Greenville cannot be more than six barges wide or deeper than 9.5ft. Greenville to Tunica southbound barges can load as deep as 10ft but cannot be more than seven barges wide.

All locations between Cairo, Illinois, and Greenville fell back to their low water threshold over the weekend as rainfall from Hurricane Francine flowed down the river.

More grain has moved downriver this year compared with last year as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects higher US grain exports in the 2024-25 marketing year. Around 367,000 short tons of grain moved for the week ended 14 September, which is about double the same period a year earlier, the USDA said. Both south and northbound movement is expected to see a heavier pace in October.

By Meghan Yoyotte

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08/07/25

French diesel, HVO customs data mislabelled: Eurostat

Barcelona, 8 July (Argus) — French firms have mislabelled imports of 10ppm diesel as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) this year, following confusion over new customs codes, EU data service Eurostat has said. The confusion has come about after the introduction of a new import-export (CN) code for HVO that took effect at the start of 2025. Some French data will be restated. A diesel code of 27101943 was discontinued at the end of 2024 and was replaced by 27101944. A new CN code 27101942 for HVO was introduced. HVO is produced by treating vegetable oil with hydrogen, counts against biodiesel blend mandates, but is molecularly separate from biodiesel output by esterification. When customs data for 2025 began to be published at the end of the first quarter, France appeared to be importing large amounts of HVO from Saudi Arabia and the US. Cargoes from the former amounted to around 255,000t in the first quarter. Saudi Arabia has no HVO production known by Argus , nor does it re-export cargoes. It is France's largest diesel supplier. There were also 140,000t labelled as HVO from the US in January-March. But because the EU has anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US HVO imports, shipments of this size appeared questionable. The US is the second biggest diesel supplier to France. The mislabelling has made French and EU HVO traffic difficult to track. It has distorted French diesel import data , which show imports have fallen sharply. Argus first questioned the numbers in March when initial 2025 customs data were released. These queries were rebuffed, but after a follow up in May Eurostat said French customs had "confirmed that there has been an input error". New data will be supplied by France at an unspecified time this year, it said. By Adam Porter Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Jordan’s JPMC sells DAP in $810s/t fob

08/07/25

Jordan’s JPMC sells DAP in $810s/t fob

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EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

08/07/25

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

Brussels, 8 July (Argus) — The European Commission today proposed a package of measures to support the EU chemicals sector, aiming to address high energy costs, global competition and weak demand. The plan includes extending emissions trading system (ETS) compensation to more producers and simplifying fertilizer registration rules. The commission said the simplification measures could save the sector €363mn/yr. The proposals are part of a broader action plan to boost competitiveness and secure supply chains. A new Critical Chemicals Alliance will identify key production sites in need of policy support, including on trade issues such as supply chain dependencies and market distortions. The commission also pledged to apply trade defence measures more quickly and expand chemical import monitoring under an existing surveillance task force. While the commission stopped short of proposing a Critical Chemicals Act — which would legally define specific chemicals for support — it named steam crackers, ammonia, chlorine and methanol as "essential" to the EU economy. The alliance will aim to align investment and co-ordinate support, including through the bloc's Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) programme. The commission also decided on new rules legally defining low-carbon hydrogen today and said it plans to allow more state aid for electricity-intensive chemical producers by the end of the year. It also encouraged the use of carbon capture, biomass, waste and renewables. EU industry commissioner Stephane Sejourne said the action plan uses "all levers" to put the chemicals sector back on a growth track, with measures to retain steam crackers and other key chemical assets in Europe. He also highlighted efforts to secure domestic demand for "clean and made-in-Europe chemicals". The commission will align fertilizer registration rules with the EU's REACH chemicals framework, applying standard REACH provisions and streamlining the assessment of micro-organisms used in fertilizers. Officials said the changes will maintain safety and agro-economic efficiency standards while allowing a broader range of micro-organisms. For ETS indirect cost compensation, the commission plans to expand the list of eligible chemicals — including organic chemicals and fertilizers — but must first update existing state aid guidelines, a senior EU official said. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia's Gladstone port coal exports drop in FY25

08/07/25

Australia's Gladstone port coal exports drop in FY25

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Tokyo unlikely to yield on car levy despite US pressure

08/07/25

Tokyo unlikely to yield on car levy despite US pressure

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Draught limits tighten on lower Mississippi River

Related news posts

French diesel, HVO customs data mislabelled: Eurostat

French diesel, HVO customs data mislabelled: Eurostat

Jordan’s JPMC sells DAP in $810s/t fob

Jordan’s JPMC sells DAP in $810s/t fob

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

EU proposes support package for chemicals sector

Australia's Gladstone port coal exports drop in FY25

Australia's Gladstone port coal exports drop in FY25

Tokyo unlikely to yield on car levy despite US pressure

Tokyo unlikely to yield on car levy despite US pressure

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